Transfer mechanism for multiple station headers



March3l, 1942; J. H. FRIEDMAN 2,278,103

I TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE STATION HE ADERS Y I Filed May a, 19415 Sheets-Shet 1 I mvsnrron r/OHN H' FRIEDMAN A T TOENE Y5 March 31,1942. R p u- 2,278,103

TRANSFER MECHANISM FdR MULTIPLE STATIOI} HE'ADE'RS 7 Filed May 6, 1941 sSheets-Shget 2 v IINVENTOR. 'r/OH/V H; memo/mu v WWW;

' ATTO NEYS I March 31, 1942. J. H. FRIEDMAN 2,278,103

' TRAN FER MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE STATION HEADERS Filed May 6 '1941 ssheets-sietxs F I I I 'IAIIVENTOR.

T/OHN H- FRIEDMAN A Tram/5Y5.

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE "STATION HEADERSJohn' H. Friedman, Tiflimohio, assignor to The National Machinerycorporation of Ohio mpany, Tiifin, Ohio, a

I Application May :6, 1941, Serial No. 392,078

"19 Claims.

This invention :relates to machinesfor making bO1l3$,7SCI6WS andsimilararticles, and particularlytowmachine fior successively-performinga series of operations upon blanks.

Machines for performing :a plurality of operations upon blanks cut offfrom wire or red stock are illustrated in the patents-to FI'OSt,"NOS.

2,020,658-and 2,020,659, and .in my PatentrrNo.

2,020,660. Machines of 'the type illustrated, in

said patents have been arranged, for'example, to cut off blanks fromsuitable-stock; upset, ex-

trude and trim the blanks by successive pairs .of cooperating tools anddies; transfer the blanks to .a pointing mechanism; and then transferthe pointed blanks to "a roll threading mechanism.

The tools for heading, extruding and trimming the blanks have ordinarilybeen arranged in horizontal alignment across the face of a requiresincreasing the width of 'theiheading slide, with a consequent increaseof the spacing :between the side members of the frame. Such widening ofthe machine not :only increases "the size and cost of the parts indirect proportion to the increasein width, but necessitatessuperimposing a further increase in the size and cost -of'the elementsofthe machine in order to retain the same strength and rigidity. Theendportion of 'the frame, for example, must not onlybe widened toprovide space for the station, but

ciprocating :heading slide, with the cooperating dies correspondinglyarranged on the die-breast .01 end portion ofthe main frame within whichthe slide is mounted. Suitable means have been provided -.to transferthe blanks "from -the cutofi die .to .the successive extruding :andheading dies,

the patent to Clouse No. 2,026,823. In .the masuch as the transfermechanism illustrated in725 chines illustrated in said Frost Patent N0.

2,020,658 and in my Patent No. 2,020,660, the last station provided bythe cooperating tools on the header slide and bed frame is.atrimmingstation in which the .blanks are pushed through a trimming die{into a passageway in the header slide .from which the blanks aretransferred to the-pointing mechanism mounted .on the side of thebedframe.

It frequentlyhappens that it is desired to form articles in such anautomatic machine by a process in which itis not necessary to push theblanks through .a trimming die, and in which the final operationperformed onfthe 'bl'ank'sfb'y the tools carried by the jheadin'gslideis of such a nature that the blanks cannot "be pushed intoaflpas'sageway in the headers'lide. Such articles may be completed bythe operations performed by the heading slide'too'ls, orfurtheroperations such as pointing, threading, or .both, may be required. Inorder to utilize a combined machine of the .type referred to andillustrated 'in the aforesaid patents in the manufacture of sucharticles, it has heretofore been necessary to provide an idle station atwhich the blanks are simply pushed axially into a passageway from whichthey may be transferred to succeeding operations or collected ascompleted articles.

To provide such an idle station, however, re-

must be increased in section to retain'the same strength because of thewider spacing of its .pointsofconnection-to the side frame members.

The :crankshaft, which reciprocates'the heading .slide and mustwithstandas a bending load the heavy pressures of upsetting, is journalled in theframe side members, so that an increase in the spacing of these sidemembers requires a substantial increase in the'diameter ofthecrankshaft. The increase in mass of all" of the "moving partsincreases the bearing loads and inertia -loads, thereby reducing themaximum permissible speed ofthe machine.

Thus the provision of an extra station increases the weight and cost ofthe machine and decreases the speed and output-out of proportion tothemere increase in width,-and excessively out of proportion to theresults obtained, where the last operation to be performed on the blankby the heading slide is an upsetting or similar operation and theextra.station is provided solely to transfer the blanks.

The object of the present invention is to removethe blanks from the laststation formed by the cooperating tools on the heading slide and bedframe to .a point where they can be picked up .and transferred tosubsequent operations or positions, without moving the blanks into apassageway in the heading slide or bed frame, thereby'permittingamachine with a given number of heading stations to be used for carryingout manufacturing processes which heretofore have required an extrastation with the consequent great increase in cost andv weight of the.machine. .Other objects are to move the blanks bothlaterally andvertically from the final heading station; to combine a transfermechanism operating to move blanks in' a straight line from one workingstation to another with a transfer fingers and move the sameprogressively through a tube or chute in a simple and efiicient manner.Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the die-breast of the machine equippedwith a transfer mechanism in accordance with the present invention withthe transfer fingers in position to close upon blanks ejected from thedie.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the transfer mechanism in position todeliver the transferred blanks.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine with partsbroken away to show the final die station in section.

Figure 4 is a detail side view of the blank receiving tube;

Figure 5 is a section through the machine on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;and

Figure 6 is a partial top plan view of the machine.

Referring to the drawings,'the numeral III designates the die breast ofthe bed frame of a multiple station headingmachine, which is formedintegral with the side frame members II and I2. A suitable stockfeedmechanism is arranged to feed stock through a cut-off die I3 whichis disposed at one side of the machine. The cut-off die is preferablymounted on a cut-off slide I4 arranged to be reciprocated vertically toshear off a blank from the end of the stock which is fed forwardly andraise the cut-off blank into alignment with the line of heading dies, asillustrated in the patent to Clouse No. 2,131,936. This patentedcut-off-mechanism is preferred although it will be understood that anysuitable form of means for cutting off blanks and carrying the same intoposition for the first operation may be employed if desired.

Dies to receive the blanks and hold the same while they are operated onby the tools carried by the heading slide are arranged in horizontalalignment as indicated at I5, I6 and H. A' transfer slide I8 is mountedupon the bed frame for horizontal reciprocation above the line of diesand is provided with cooperating pairs of gripping fingers I9, 29, and Hmounted upon shafts 22. The fingers-I9 are arranged to pick up blanksfrom the cut-off die'l3 and carry the same to the first heading die I5.The fingers 29 are arranged to carry blanks ejected from the die I5 tothe die I6, and the fingers 2| are arranged to carry blanks ejected fromthe die I6 to the die" The particular type of transfer mechanismillustrated is constructed and operated as disclosed in the ClousePatent No. 2,026,823,. to which patent reference is made for a morecomplete disclosure of the transfer mechanism. Each pair of fingers I9,'20, and 2| is constantlyurged closed by a spring 23 secured to the endsof the pair of fingers projecting above the shafts 22. The. transfercarriage I8 is reciprocated by a crank 24 oscillated through shafts 25and 26 by a rack 21 reciprocated by the crankshaft. of the machine. -Thefingers are spread open at the proper time in'the cycle of operations bya cam 28 driven by a suitable shaft of the machine. The drive may bearranged as illustrated in said Patent No.- 2,026,823, or asillustrated-in Patent No.

A heading slide 29 is slidably mounted in the side members II and I2 ofthe bed for reciprocation toward and away from the die-breast. The slideis reciprocated by a pitman (not shown) connected to the crankshaft 30.The forward face of the heading slide carries tools 3| arranged tocooperate with the heading die I5, I6, and H. The slide may beconstructed and operated as illustrated in the aforesaid Frost PatentsNo. 2,020,658 and No. 2,020,659, and when desired may likewise beprovided with roll threading dies behind the crankshaft as illustratedin said Frost patents.

The transfer mechanism for removing the blanks from the final headingdie I! comprises generally an arm 32 pivoted as at 33 to a stationarybracket 34. The arm 32 is arranged to be swung about the pivot 33 bymeans of a link 35 pivoted to the arm at 36 and to a suitablebracket 31carried on the transfer slide I8. The arm 32 carries at its free end afixed gripping finger 38 and a movable finger 39 pivoted to the arm 32at 40. The finger 39 is formed as a bell crank with its upper portion 4Iext endedand terminating in a cam 42. A spring 43 is arranged betweenthe arm 32 and the cam 42 constantly urging the gripping finger 39toward the fixed finger 38 so as to grip blanks therebetween. The cam42is extended laterally in position to engage the upper end 44 of theadjacent gripping finger 2| of the main transfer mechanism.

To receive the blanks from the final transfer arm 32, a tube 41 isclamped in a suitable bracket 48 mounted on the side frame member II ofthe machine. Theforward end of the tube is notched I on itsunderside asillustrated at 49 so that blanks carried by the arm 32 can be movedupwardly into alignment with the bore of the tube. The tube 41 isslotted for a short distance on its upper face as illustrated at 50 toreceive a depending finger 5| secured in a slot in a bar 52 mounted forreciprocation above and parallel to the axis of the tube 41. The finger5| is formedrwith a bifurcated end 53 arranged to fit over the shanks ofthe completed blanks behind their heads and to slide in the tube 41 whenthe bar 52 is reciprocated.

To reciprocate the bar 52 it is formed on its upper face with rack teeth54. A lever 55 is pivoted to the bracket 48 at 56 and is provided with asector 51 adjustably secured to the lever 55 by a bolt 58. The sector isformed with teeth 59 engaging the rack teeth 54. The lever 55 isconnected by a connecting rod 60 to a lever 6I which is pulledrearwardly by a spring 62 and moved forwardly by a cam 63 mounted on thecrankshaft 30 and engaging a cam roller 64 on the lever 6 I. i

.In operation the heading slide is reciprocated toward and away from thedie-breast by means of the rotating crankshaft 30. During each cycle oftheoperation the cut-off die I3 shears off a length of stockforming ablank. While the header slide is spaced from the die-breast, ejectorrods, such as the ejector rod 65' shown in Figure 3, are movedforwardlyby suitable cams on the cam shaft 66', which is oscillated by alink 61 connected to the crankshaft, to eject the new blank from thecut-01f die I3, and simultaneously eject the blanks from the dies I5,I6, and IT. At this time the transfer slide I6 has been moved to theposition shown in Figure 1, and as the blanks are ejected from the diesI3, I5, and I6 the gripping fingers I9, 20, and 2I close upon and gripthe blanks. As the fingers close to grip the -2,| grip the blanksejected from as illustrated in Figures Z and 3.

blanks, the end Mof the right-hand finger 2| is .moved to the left, asseen in Figure l, allowing the spring ;43 to press the cam 42 to theleft. .As a consequence the finger "39 is moved toward the finger :38 bythe spring 2-4,3,;;gripping :the blank ejected from thedie I] as thefingers i9, 20, and the dies l3, l5 and It.

After the blanks have been fully ejected and gripped in the varioussetsof :fingers, the transfer slide t8 isamoved'to the right as seen inFigure 1 totheposition shown in FigureZ. During this movement thefingers l9 carry the blank from thecut-off Edie i3 .into alignment withthe 1 opening intheadie l5,rand the fingers ZfizandZl similarly carrythe blanks ejected from the dies .l5 and I5 into alignment with the diesl5 and I1, respectively. When this movement is completed the headerslide again approaches, its forward center .and the tools 26 on theheader slide engage the blanks held in alignment with the dies [5, I6,and I1 and ,force these blanks into the die openings. As soonas theblanks have been entered into the dies and before the heading slidetools contact with the transfer fingers, the fingers are opened so as toclear the heading slide tools and permit the same to upset or otherwisework the blanks positioned in the dies. This operation and timing arelikewise fully disclosed in said Clouse Patent vNo. 2,026,823 and in(the Clouse Patent'No. 2,131,936.

When the transfer slide moves to the right to the position illustratedin Figure '2, the link .forces the arm 32 upwardly about the pivot 33 tothe position shown in Figure 2. The blank gripped between the fingers 32and 39 is thereby .carried upwardly and outwardlyinto alignment with thebore of the tube 4'1, the head of the blank entering the :notch .49 inthe tube and passing behind the bifurcated end 53 of finger At this timethe cam 42 is moved away from, the finger end 44, as shown in Figure '2,so that the cam 42 isnot affected by theopening of the fingers I'9, Hand2! when the header slide approachesits forward position and the blankheld by the fingers38 and 39 remains gripped by the tension of thespring t3. While the transferslide l8 dwells :in;its right-handposition, as illustratedin Figure 2, during the completion of theheading op eration on the blanks vin:the dies l5, .l6,-and il the highpart of the cam 53 passes the roller '64 so that the spring 62;pulls thelever .6! to the left asseen in Figure 3. This movement is trans-:mitted through. the lever and sectorl5l to the 1 bar 52 so ,that'thebifurcated end 53 of thefinger 5| pulls the blank from between thefingers 38 and 39 and into the tube.

At the completion of the heading stroke the header slide again recedesfrom' the dies and the transfer carriage 18 moves to the left with thefingers 19, 20, and 2:! open so that these fingers are in position toagain grip the blanks ejected from-the dies l3, l5, and it. During thismovement the link 35 returns thearm 32 to the position shown in Figure1, and as the arm 32 approaches alignment with the die H the cam 42engages the finger end M and again opens the finger 39. As the blanksare again ejected from thedies the cycle is repeated.

.As each blank is pulled from between the fingers 38 and 39 into thetube 41 by the bifurcated finger end '53, theblankspreviously depositedin the tube 47 are engaged bythe incoming blank and advanced one blanklengthalongthe tube.

The tube 41 .is aligned ;with ,a transfer tube 65 which ispreferablyiinclinediupwardl to a maximum elevation indicated at 66, fromwhich the blanks *may be 'fed byigravity through a "chute or tube'to asucceeding operation as disclosed in the aforesaid Frost Patent .No.2,020,658, or as disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,109,918. The blanksmay be led to a roll threading mechanism as disclosed in said patents orto any otherstation at which itiisydesired to,=act upon orcollect theblanks-sequentially.

It will beseen :that with "this novel ftransfer arrangement it ispossible :to utilize a final die I! for, performing :an upsettingorextruding operation of such a nature that the blank cannot be pushedinto a tube-in the die or in the .header slide in-t hemanner inwhich'theblank is.JDushed through a trimming punch in my prior Patent No.2,020,660, and .aitthe :same time retain control of theblanks andadvance 'themin orderly sequence toanother operation. This :isaccomplished, without widening .of the; header slide, die- .breast and[bed frame as would be .necessary to provide the same number ofupsetting stations with an additional idle or trimming station at whichthe completed blanks could be pushed into a tube in the header slide. Itwill be understood .of course that any desired number of dies or tivelylighterthan would be required to carry the same loads'in thewidermachine. For example, to maintain a given strength and rigidity in 'thedie-breast ill of the machine with an increased width requires not onlythe addition of the neoessar-ymetal to give the increased width with thesame section, but also an increase in the section of the frame partbecause of theincreased spacing-of the point of connection of thedie-breast ID to the-sideframe members I l and1l2. Similarly thewidening of the header slide increases the spacing of the rbearings ofthecrankshaft .3!) in the-frame members l1! and 1'2, necessitating anincrease in the size of the crankshaft and of the hearings in ordertomaintain the same strength and rigidity. In addition the transfer arm 32and associated parts can be made substantially lighter than anadditional set of transfer fingers i9, 20, and ZI, with their operatingmechanism, thus reducing the'mass of thetrans- .fer mechanism whichmust-be reciprocated and permitting reduced. bearing loads and inertialosses and higher speed of the machine.

The mechanism disclosed has a furtheradvantage .in that its timing iscontrolled by the main transfer slide I8. Thus when the main transfermechanism hasi'been properly timed and adjusted for any particular sizeof blank, the Supplemental transfer arm 32 is automatically properlytimed for the same blank. The position of the bar .152 at thebppositelimits of its stroke may be readily adjusted by adjusting the sector '51with respect to the lever 55, so as to accommodate any desired blanklength. Likewise the tube 41 may be removed from the bracket 48 andreplaced .by artube .of a different length so that the :notched end 49is positioned to receive the .head :of the particular 'blank being:made.

Although I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention it willbe understood that various modifications and variations of structuraldetails and arrangements of parts may be made without departing from thescope of the various features of my invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine having a bed frame, a reciprocating slide, a die on saidbed frame, a cooperating tool on said slide, and means for supplyingblanks to said die to be worked upon by said tool; a transfermechanisrn' comprising an arm carrying gripping fingers, said arm beingpivoted at a relatively stationary point above said die for swingingmovement in a plane transverse to the direction of movement of saidslide, said arm being swingable to a position with said fingers alignedwith said die to receive a blank ejected therefrom, and to a positionlaterally out of the path of said slide and above said frame, a guidewayfor blanks supported by said frame, and means for transferring blanksfrom said fingers to said guideway when said arm is in said lastmentioned position.

2. In a machine having a bed frame, a reciprocating slide, a die on saidbed frame, a cooperating tool on said slide, and means for supplyingblanks to said die to be worked upon by said tool; a transfer mechanismcomprising an arm carrying gripping fingers, said arm being pivotedabove said die and being swingable in a plane transverse to thedirection of movement of said slide to a position with said fingersaligned with said die to receive a blank ejected therefrom, and to aposition out of the path of said slide, a guideway for blanks supportedby said frame, and reciprocating means for withdrawing a blank from saidfingers when said arm is in said last mentioned position and advancingthe same along said guideway.

3. In combination, a bed frame carrying a die, a header slidereciprocably mounted in said frame and carryinga tool to act upon blanksheld in said die, a transfer arm pivoted to said frame for swingingmovement in a plane transverse to the direction of movement of saidheader slide, blank receiving means carried by said frame above and toone side of the line of movement of said header slide, and means forswinging said transfer arm in timed relation to the movements of saidheader slide to a position in alignment with said die to receive blankstherefrom and to a position in alignment with said blank receiving meansto deliver blanks thereto.

4. In combination, a bed frame carrying a die, a header slidereciprocably mounted in said frame and carrying a tool to act uponblanks held in said die, a transfer arm carrying blank gripping fingers,said arm being pivoted to said frame, blank receiving means carried bysaid frame above and to one side of the line of movement of said headerslide, and means for swinging said transfer arm in timed relation to themovements of said header slide to a position with said gripping fingersin alignment with said die to receive blanks therefrom and to a positionwith said gripping fingers in alignment with said blank receiving meansto deliver blanks thereto.

5. In combination, a bed frame carrying a die, a header slidereciprocably mounted in said frame and carrying a tool to act uponblanks held in said die, a transfer arm carrying blank gripping fingers,said arm being pivoted to said frame, blank receiving means carried bysaid frame out of the line of movement of said header slide, means forswinging said transfer arm in timed relation to the movements of saidheader slide to a position with said gripping fingers in alignment withsaid die to receive blanks therefrom and to a position with saidgripping fingers in alignment with said blank receiving means to deliverblanks thereto, and means associated with said blank receiving means forremoving blanks from said gripping fingers.

6. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having a pluralityof aligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said framecarrying tools to cooperate with said dies, a transfer carriage movableparallel to the line of said dies having fingers for carrying blanksfrom one die to the next, blank receiving means mounted on said frameout of the line of movement of said header slide, and a transfer armpivoted to said frame and movable about said pivot from a position inline with the last of said dies to a position in line with said blankreceiving means, and means for moving said transfer carriage and saidtransfer arm in timed relation to the reciprocation of said headerslide.

7. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having a pluralityof aligned dies, at header slide reciprocably mounted in said framecarrying tools to cooperate with said dies, a transfer carriage movableparallel to the line of said dies having fingers for carrying blanksfrom one die to the next, blank receiving means mounted on said frameout of the line of movement of said header slide, and a transfer armpivoted to a relatively fixed point and swingable from a position inline with the last of said dies to a position in line with the last ofsaid dies to a position in line with said blank receiving means, andmeans for moving said transfer carriage and said transfer arm in timedrelation to the reciprocation of said header slide.

8. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having a pluralityof aligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said framecarrying tools to cooperate with said dies, a transfer carriage movableparallel to the line of said dies having fingers for carrying blanksfrom one die to the next, blank receiving means mounted on said frameout of the line of movement of said header slide, and a transfer armhaving blank gripping fingers, said arm being pivoted to a relativelyfixed point above the line of said dies and swingable from a positionwith said gripping fingers in line with thelast of said dies to aposition with said gripping fingers in line with said blank receivingmeans, and means for moving said transfer carriage and said transfer armin timed relation to the reciprocation of said header slide.

9. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having a pluralityof aligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said framecarrying tools to cooperate with said dies, a transfer carriage movableparallel to the line of said dies having fingers for carrying blanksfrom one die to the next, blank receiving means mounted on said frameout of the line of movement of said header slide, and a transfer armhaving blank gripping fingers, said arm being pivoted to a relativelyfixed point above the line of said dies and swingable from a positionwith said gripping fingers in line with the last of said dies to aposition with said gripping fingers in line with said blank receivingmeansQmeans for moving said a 13. A multiple station header comprising abed transfer carriage and said transfer arm in timed relation to thereciprocation of said header slide, and means associated with said blankreceiving means for removing blanks from said gripping fingers.

10. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having sideportions and an end portion, said end portion carrying a plurality ofaligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame betweenthe side portions thereof carrying tools to cooperate with said dies,means for feeding elongated stock, cut-off means carried by the endportion of said frame in advance of said dies for cutting off successivelengths of stock to form blanks, the side portions of said frame beingspaced apart only a sufficient distance to accommodate said cut-offmeans and said aligned dies, means for transferring blanks from saidcut-off means to the first of said dies, and from each die to the nextsuccessive die, blank receiving means mounted on one of the sideportions of said bed frame out of the line of movement of said headerslide, and a transfer arm mounted on said frame and movable in a planetransverse to the direction of movement, of said header slide fortransferring blanks from the last die of said series to said blankreceiving means.

11. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having sideportions and an end portion, said end portion carrying a plurality ofaligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame betweenthe side portions thereof carrying tools to cooperate with said dies,means for feeding elongated stock, cut-off means carried by the endportion of said frame in advance of said dies for cutting off successivelengths thereof to form blanks, the side portions of said frame beingspaced apart only a sufiicient distance to accommodate said cut-01fmeans and said aligned dies, means for transferring blanks from saidcut-off means to the first of said dies and from each die to the nextsuccessive die, blank receiving means mounted on one of the sideportions of said bed frame out of the line of movement of said headerslide, and a transfer arm pivoted to a relatively fixed point andmovable to a position between and in line with the last die of saidseries and its cooperating tool on said header slide to receive blanksfrom said die and to a position in line with said blank receiving meansto deliver blanks thereto.

12. A multiple station header comprising a bed frame having sideportions and an end portion, said end portion carrying a plurality ofaligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in said frame betweenthe side portions thereof carrying tools to cooperate with said dies,means for feeding elongated stock, cut-off means carried by the endportion of said frame in advance of said dies for cutting off successivelengths of stock to form blanks, the side por tions of said frame beingspaced apart only a sufiicient distance to accommodate said blankfeeding and cut-off means and said aligned dies, means for transferringblanks from said cut-ofl means to the first of said dies and from eachdie to the next successive die, a blank guideway mounted on one of theside portions of said bed frame out of the line of movement of saidheader slide, and a transfer arm pivoted above the line of said dies forswinging movement in a plane transverse to the direction of movement ofsaid header slide for transferring blanks from the last die of saidseries to said blank guideway.

frame having side portions and an end portion, said end portion carryinga plurality of aligned dies, a header slide reciprocably mounted in saidframe between the side portions thereof carrying tools-to cooperate withsaid dies, means for feeding elongated stock, cut-off means carried bythe end portion of said frame in advance of said dies for cutting offsuccessive lengths of stock to form blanks, the side portions of saidframe being spaced apart only a sufficient distance to accommodate saidblank feeding and cut-off means and said aligned dies, means fortransferring blanks from said cut-off means to the first of said diesand from each die to the next successive die, ablank guideway mounted onone of the side portions of said bed frame out of the line of movementof said header slide, a transfer arm pivoted above the line of said diesfor transferring blanks from the last die of said series to said blankguideway, and means associated with said guideway for withdrawing blanksfrom said transfer arm and advancing the same along said guideway.

14. A machine comprising a bed frame having spaced side portions and anend portion, said end portion carrying a die, a reciprocating headerslide mounted between the side portions of said bed frame, said slidecarrying a tool to act upon blanks held in said die, a guideway forblanks mounted on a side portion of said bed frame, transfer fingersmovable from a position in alignment with said die to receive blanksejected therefrom to a position in alignment with said blank guideway,and means for removing blanks from said transfer fingers and advancingthe same along said guideway.

15. A machine comprising a bed frame having spaced side portions and anend portion, said end portion carrying a die, a reciprocating headerslide mounted between the side portions of said bed frame, said slidecarrying a tool to act upon blanks held in said die, a guideway forblanks mounted on a side portion of said bed frame, gripping fingerscarried by a pivoted transfer arm and movable from a position inalignment with said die to receive blanks ejected therefrom to aposition in alignment with said blank guideway, and means for removingblanks from said gripping fingers and advancing the same along saidguideway.

16. A header comprising a bed frame having spaced side portions and anend portion, a reciprocating header slide mounted between the sideportions of said bed frame, said slide and bed frame carryingcooperating tools to form headed blanks, a guideway for blanks mountedon a side portion of said bed frame, transfer fingers movable from aposition in alignment with said die to receive headed blanks ejectedtherefrom to a position in alignment with said blank guideway, and areciprocating finger arranged to engage the heads of blanks carried bysaid transfer fingers for withdrawing blanks from said transfer fingersand advancing the same along said guideway.

17. A header comprising a bed frame having spaced side portions and anend portion, a reciprocating header slide mounted between the sideportions of said bed frame, said slide and bed frame carryingcooperating tools to form headed blanks, a tube to receive and guideblanks mounted on a side portion of said bed frame, transfer fingersmovable from a position in alignment with .said die to receive headedblanks ejected therefrom to a position in alignment with said tube, anda reciprocating finger arranged to engage the undersides of the heads ofblanks held in said transfer fingers to withdraw blanks from saidtransfer fingers and advance the same in axial alignment through saidtube.

18. Blank transfer mechanism comprising an open ended tube to receiveand guide headed blanks in axial alignment, gripping fingers movable ina plane transverse to the axis of said tube arranged to carry headedblanks into alignment with said tube with the heads of the blanksadjacent the open end of the tube, and means mov able axially withrespect to said tube arranged to engage the heads of blanks held by saidgripping fingers to withdraw blanks from said gripping fingers and movethe same into said tube.

19. Blank transfer mechanism comprising an open ended tube to receiveand guide headed blanks in axial alignment, gripping fingers movable ina plane transverse to the axis of said tube arranged to carry headedblanks into alignment with said tube with the heads of the blanksadjacent the open end of the tube, a finger arranged to clear the shanksof blanks held by said gripping fingers in alignment with said tube andto engage the heads thereof, said finger being movable to a positionspaced from the end of said tube to permit said gripping fingers tocarry a blank into alignment with said tube and to a position withinsaid tube to engage the head of the blank and transfer the same fromsaid fingers to said tube.

JOHN H. FRIEDMAN.

